"Dune": A Great Beginning of Sci-fi Film

After watching Dune, I feel this will be a great science fiction film series, much like The Lord of the Rings in the fantasy film genre. It is completely different from current Hollywood blockbusters, especially the superhero films of the Marvel and DC series. Denis Villeneuve abandons the commonly used three-act structure in commercial films and doesn't rely on plot twists to engage the audience or build up to a climactic spectacle.

This adaptation of Dune immerses the audience in the desert world of Arrakis. Villeneuve uses classical painting and sculpture-like compositions, low-saturation tones (in contrast to the vibrant, high-saturation colors in typical blockbusters), ceremonial scenes, and a wealth of details to depict the world of Dune:

Legions of soldiers in different colored armor look like a group of ants against the backdrop of the ships. Sandworms create towering sand waves as they move underground. Tiny sand mice collect their own sweat with their ear hairs and survive tenaciously in the desert (Paul, the protagonist of the book, uses Muad'Dib, the name of a desert mouse, as his nickname, symbolizing tenacity and perseverance).

The original Dune novel relied on something other than plot twists to win over readers. Author Frank Herbert used a lot of psychological monologues, imagination, and hallucinations to portray the characters' inner worlds. He also incorporates various poems, quotes, and documents, creating a sense of ambiguity for readers.

Early science fiction novels emphasized science fiction concepts and thrilling stories too much. With a new wave of science fiction in the 1960s, science fiction began to focus more on literary quality. Dune was created against this background.

Denis Villeneuve accurately captures the tragic tone of Shakespeare's novel, showcasing the anti-hero and anti-establishment themes in the film. The entire movie's framework is reminiscent of Hamlet. Paul does not wish to become a savior or a family leader seeking revenge, but he has no other option.

When the Harkonnens attacked and slaughtered the Atreides family in Arrakis, there was a panoramic shot: warriors from both sides were in a desperate charge, and the foreground was a sky full of flames caused by the dropped bombs. This feeling is very similar to Shakespeare's Macbeth, King Lear, Othello, and so on. Characters fight to death with their enemies for a crown, honor, or an ideal but unexpectedly become pawns of fate and are driven by inexorable destiny.

Although the characterization of the characters is somewhat limited due to its grand worldview, the protagonist, Paul, still shows his confusion. In the exiled desert, he seems to wake up from dreams and illusions, saying that he saw countless people shouting his name, killing and conquering in his name, and accusing the sisterhood in which his mother is located of turning him into a monster with superpowers. Just like what Romain Rolland said: "There is only one true heroism in the world, and that is to still love it after understanding the truth of life." Paul's confusion about his identity and resistance to the fate imposed on him is also what I really want to see in the subsequent stories.

Hans Zimmer's music in the film is among his best in recent years. It goes beyond the confines of the musical styles of the new century and sometimes even turns mere percussion into melody. The music and sound effects of the entire film are quiet but presented in an extremely simple form. They do not overwhelm the audience but still touch the heartstrings.

I strongly disagree with the assessment that the film's storyline is outdated and its content lacks depth. In Dune, form is content, atmosphere is theme, style is expression, and environment is story. This epic construction is not only magnificent in the picture but also in the panoramic display of the world of Dune and in compassion for the fate of the characters. Just like the first two parts of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, they received minimal recognition at the Oscars, while the third part won 11 major awards.

I believe the Dune series will gradually unfold its epic journey, and the first part has already lifted the veil of this magnificent world. It may require patience and investment from the audience, and what it will give back to us will be an incredibly magnificent world that stages drama after drama.